Will of Thomas Alchin

of West Malling, Kent

Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11/561, 1717
Transcribed by Steve GreenMore about Thomas Allchin
In the name of God Amen I Thomas Alchin the Elder of West Malling in the County of Kent Yeoman
being in good health and of sound and perfect mind memory and understanding (praised be Almighty
God) therefore I do this present fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and seventeen make ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form
following (that is to say)

Imprimis I give and devise all and every my messuage lands tenements and
hereditaments with their appurtenances situate lying and being in West Malling aforesaid and East
Malling in the said County of Kent unto my two sons Nicholas and John Alchin by my now wife
Dorothy and unto such after born son or sons of my body on her the said Dorothy begotten (if any)
equally to be divided between them and their heirs lawfully issuing at their respective age and ages of
one and twenty years and for default of such heirs of the bodies of my said sons Nicholas and John
Alchin respectively and of such after born son or sons (if any) I give and devise all and every my said
messuage lands tenements and hereditaments with their appurtenances unto my two daughters Dorothy
and Ann Alchin by my now wife Dorothy and unto such after born daughter or daughters of my body
on her the said Dorothy begotten (if any) equally to be divided between them and their heirs provided
always nevertheless and my mind and will is that my said messuage lands tenements and hereditaments
shall be charged with and liable unto the several annuities or yearly and other rent charge or payments
legacies and sums of money hereinafter by me given bequeathed and devised out of and charged upon
the same in manner hereinafter mentioned

Item I give and devise unto my daughter Elizabeth Tong
wife of William Tong for and during the natural life of her mother in law Ann Tong one annuity or
yearly rent charge of five pounds and four shillings of lawful money of Great Britain to be issuing
going forth payable and paid out of all and every my said messuage lands tenements and hereditaments
tax free by quarterly payments (viz) at Michaelmas Christmas Lady Day and Midsummer the first
payment thereof to begin and be made at the first of the said feasts or days of payment which shall next
happen after my decease And I do hereby appoint my son Thomas Alchin and my friend Edward
Sedgwick and their heirs to receive and take the said annuity or yearly rent charge of five pounds and
four shillings upon trust and confident and to the intent and purposes that my said son Thomas and the
said Edward Sedgwick and their heirs shall and may during the natural life of her said mother in law
Ann Tong pay out and dispose of the same and every part thereof not unto the said William Tong the
husband of my said daughter Elizabeth to his Executors Administrators or Assigns or to any other
person or persons for his use or by his order or appointment but unto the proper hands of my said
daughter Elizabeth or for her separate use or benefit as they the said Trustees or the survivor of them
his heirs and assigns shall in their or his discretion from time to time think fitting or most for the
benefit and good of my said daughter Elizabeth by weekly payments only of two shillings per week and
not otherwise and so as and provided always that the same annuity or yearly rent charge or any part
thereof may not be subject or liable to the control (?) debts forfeitures assignments or encumbrances of
my said son in law William Tong And of the said annuity or yearly rent charge of five pounds and four
shillings or any part thereof shall be behind or unpaid by the space of one and twenty days next after
any of the said days of payment on which the same ought to be paid as aforesaid it shall and may be
lawful to and for my said son Thomas and the said Edward Sedgwick and the survivor of them his heirs
and assigns to enter and distrain upon the said messuage lands tenements and hereditaments or any part
thereof so as aforesaid charges with the same and the distress or distresses then and there found to take
drive carry away impound detain and keep until the said annuity and all arrears thereof and all costs
and charges by reason or means of such distress or distresses shall be fully satisfied and paid

Item I give and bequeath unto my said two daughters Dorothy and Ann the sum of fifty pounds apiece to be
paid unto them severally at their respective ages of one and twenty years if they shall so long live but
not otherwise provided further and my mind and will is that if there shall happen to be any other
daughter or daughters of my body on the body of my said wife Dorothy begotten which shall attain to
her or their respective age or ages of one and twenty years That then and in such case I do hereby give
unto such after born daughter the sum of fifty pounds if more the sum of fifty pounds apiece provided
further also and if it shall happen that if either of my said daughters Dorothy and Ann or such after
born daughter or daughters (if any) shall happen to die before she or they shall attain to her or their
respective age or ages of one and twenty years that then and in such case I do hereby will order and
appoint that the said portion or sum of fifty pounds of her that shall so die shall go to the other of them
then living (if one) if more equally to be divided between them And my mind and will is that my said
messuage lands tenements and hereditaments shall stand and be charged with and liable unto the
payment of such legacies or portions into and for such daughters in case the same shall not or cannot be
raised and paid by and out of my personal estate or the ways and means hereinafter directed and
appointed

Item I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said wife Dorothy and do will order and appoint
that she shall have receive and take the rents issues and profits of all and every my said messuage lands
tenements and hereditaments until my said sons Nicholas and John shall respectively attain his or their
respective age or ages of one and twenty years or until they would have respectively attained such age
if they had lived in case they and such after born son or sons (if any) shall all die before they or any of
them shall attain such age or ages for and towards the maintenance of herself and my said sons and
daughters Nicholas John Dorothy and Ann and of such after born child or children (if any) and for and
towards payment of the interest money or debt due and to be due upon a mortgage by me made of the
said messuage lands tenements and hereditaments subject nevertheless to the said annuity or rent
charge before by me given and devised out of and charged upon the same provided that she my said
wife Dorothy shall so long live and continue my widow but if she die or marry again Then and from
thenceforth in either of those cases I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said friend Edward
Sedgwick and John Miller of Addington in the said County of Kent Yeoman and do will order and
appoint that they shall have receive and take the rents issues and profits of all and every my said
messuage lands tenements and hereditaments until my said sons Nicholas and John and such after born
son or sons (if any) shall respectively attain his or their respective age or ages of one and twenty years
or until my said sons Nicholas and John and such after born son or sons (if any) shall all die before they
or any of them respectively shall attain such age or ages in Trust for and towards maintenance of my
said sons and daughters Nicholas John Dorothy and Ann and of such after born child or children (if
any) and for and towards payment of the interest money or debt due or to be due upon the mortgage by
me made of the said messuage lands tenements and hereditaments (subject nevertheless to the said
annuity or rent charge by me given and devised out of and charges upon the same) And the overplus of
such rents issues and profits (if any) to be applied for and towards raising my said daughters portions
and for and towards payment of the principal money due and owing upon the said mortgage provided
also always and my mind will and meaning is that if my said wife Dorothy shall live and continue my
widow until my said sons Nicholas and John and such after born son or sons (if any) shall respectively
attain his age or their age or ages of one and twenty years or until my said sons Nicholas and John
would have attained such age or ages (in case they and such after born son or sons (if any) shall all die
before they or any of them shall attain such age or ages) then and in such case my said wife shall have
and receive And I do hereby give and devise unto her from thenceforth one annuity or yearly rent
charge of ten pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be issuing going forth and payable and paid
out of all and every my said messuage or tenements lands and hereditaments unto her my said wife
Dorothy yearly and every year for and during the term of her natural life (if she continue my widow but
not otherwise) by quarterly payments tax free (viz) at Michaelmas Christmas Lady Day and
Midsummer the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the first of the said days of payment
which shall next happen after my decease provided further also and if it shall happen that my said sons
Nicholas and John and such after born son or sons (if any) shall all happen to die before they shall
attain their respective age or ages of one and twenty years That then and in such case I do hereby give
and devise unto her my said wife Dorothy one other annuity or yearly rent charge of ten pounds of
lawful money of Great Britain by quarterly payments tax free And if it shall happen the said annuity or
annuities or yearly rent charge of ten pounds and ten pounds or any part thereof shall be behind or
unpaid by the space of one and twenty days next after any of the said days of payment on which the
same ought to be paid as aforesaid It shall and may be lawful to and for the said Dorothy my wife or
her assigns at any time during such her widowhood to enter and distrain upon the said messuage lands
tenements and hereditaments or any part thereof and the distress and distresses then and there found to
take lead drive carry away impound detain and keep until the said annuity or annuities or yearly rent
charge and all arrears thereof and all costs and charges by reason or means of such distress or distresses
shall be fully satisfied contented and paid

Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife Dorothy all my
goods household stuff plate and linen whatsoever to be by her given and disposed of to and amongst
my said children of her body as she in her discretion shall think most fitting (except what shall be
convenient for her own use which I desire she may have to her own use during her natural life)

Item I
give and bequeath unto my said son Thomas Alchin and my son Henry Alchin and my said daughter
Elizabeth Tong one guinea apiece to buy them rings

Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife
Dorothy and unto the said Edward Sedgwick and John Miller their Executors Administrators and
Assigns all the residue and remainder of the term which shall be to come and unexpired after my
decease of and in my hop grounds in the parish of Leybourne which I have now in lease upon Trust and
Confidence and to the intent and purpose that they or the survivors or survivor of them his or her
Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and may pay and apply the proceed and profit of or from the
said hop grounds arising for and towards payment and discharge of the said money or debt which is or
then shall be owing (after all necessary charges or expenses are deducted) upon the said mortgage by
me made of my said messuage lands tenements and hereditaments in West Malling and East Malling
aforesaid and the overplus of such proceeds and profit (if any) after the said money or debt owing on
mortgage as aforesaid shall be paid off and discharged to be paid and applied for and towards the better
support and maintenance of my said wife and her said children and at the end of the said term all and
every the stock of hop poles of or upon the said hop grounds to be sold and applied for and towards the
purposes aforesaid and also all the rest and residue of my chattels stock cattle and personal estate
whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my said wife Dorothy and unto the said Edward Sedgwick and
John Miller upon trust to be sold and the moneys thereby arising to be paid and applied for and towards
payment in the first place of all and every my debts which I shall owe at the time of my decease 9other
than and except the said debt due on mortgage as aforesaid) and my funeral charges and the overplus
thereof (if any) after my said other debts and funeral charges are paid and discharged to be paid and
applied for and towards payment of the said debt due and owing upon the said mortgage as aforesaid

Item I do hereby make ordain and appoint my said wife Dorothythe said Edward Sedgwick and John
Miller Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament and desire them to see the same
performed and fulfilled and I do hereby give and bequeath unto them the said Edward Sedgwick and
John Miller twenty shillings apiece to buy them rings to wear in remembrance of me and I do appoint
that they and every of them shall and may deduct unto themselves and be indemnified by and out of the
goods and premises aforesaid all costs charges and expenses which they or any of them shall lay out
sustain or be put unto for or by reason ……… or on acount of the Trusts or Executorship before
mentioned or otherwise concerning the premises provided always and further my mind and will is that
if my said wife Dorothy shall hereafter marry again that then and from thenceforth the Trust power and
Executorship before herein given to or vested in her shall cease and determine as to her and that then
and in such case she shall be no longer a Trustee or Executrix to or for any the purposes aforesaid nor
shall take or receive any benefit or advantage by from or by virtue of the said Trusts or Executorship or
any of them And I do hereby revoke all former wills by me heretofore made and I do declare this
present writing contained in these six sheets of paper to be my last Will and Testament in witness
whereof I have hereunto and to each sheet thereof set my hand and seal the day and year in the first
sheet first mentioned Thos Alchin Signed sealed oublished and declared by the said Thomas Alchin the
Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses
hereunto in the presence of him the said Thomas Alchin the Testator Lydia Chapman Sarah Taylor Will Waldish(?)

Probate was granted to Dorothy Alchin Edward Sedgwick and Thomas Miller at London by the
Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 13th December 1717 (in Latin)